Hometeam: Couture pulls Shrewsbury even with Leominster

Thursday

Jan 30, 2014 at 6:00 AMJan 31, 2014 at 12:19 AM

By Carl Setterlund CORRESPONDENT

WESTBORO — The Leominster girls' hockey team was out for a little payback Thursday night at North Star Youth Forum after losing earlier in the season to Shrewsbury High, but the Blue Devils' cold dish of revenge was put on ice after a late Delaney Couture goal helped the host Colonials secure a 2-2 tie.

It was a tough result to swallow for Leominster, which had looked to continue a recent hot streak, following one of its best games of the season the previous night against Methuen/Tewksbury. The Blue Devils (3-6-3) controlled most of the game, but were thwarted in their attempt at a fourth victory in the last five games.

"The girls are playing a lot better than they were (earlier in the year)," Leominster coach Mark Berube said. "We got the bad break at the end of the game. Those two penalties, five-on-three, the second (penalty) could have gone either way."

Couture set the final score 14 seconds into a two-man advantage at 10:51 of the third period. The Colonials' scintillating seventh-grader also scored the first Shrewsbury (6-5-1) goal at 9:51 of the second, upping her goal total to 13 and tying her with Algonquin Regional's Nicollette San Clemente for the area lead.

Couture was similarly tied with San Clemente for top point scorer in Central Mass., but moved into first, upping her total to 20 through 12 games.

Leominster's top scorer, Katie Babineau, earned a point on both goals, assisting on Jess Moran's first-period opener before scoring herself with 4:10 left in the second.

Babineau scored just 59 seconds after Shrewsbury tied it up at 1-1.

Moran sent in a heater from the high slot to send Leominster in front at 4:41 of the first period. Kristi Anderson supplied the pass to the junior defenseman.

"When she can get the shot off, she can put it in the net," Berube said.

Blue Devils sophomore Aslinn Dehorsey (31 saves) made a pair of big stops in the first 20 minutes, but she couldn't stop Couture on the doorstep at 9:51 of the second period as Peyton Brown and Megan Moran received assists.

"Sometimes we're not aggressive enough in front of the net (on defense), but we'll get there," Berube said.

The 1-1 tie didn't even last a minute as Babineau put Leominster back in front at 10:50 off a tape-to-tape pass from the right boards by Sam Donahoe.

"That was what we've been trying to teach the girls and it was a great play," said Berube on Babineau's run and an impressive back door feed by Donahue.

Babineau had been shut down by Shrewsbury's junior goaltender Tiana Army (23 saves) three minutes earlier after an impressive shield and a strong take to goal from the left boards.

The Blue Devils held onto their 2-1 advantage into the third period and finally gave Shrewsbury an opening with their late penalties.

"(Donahoe) had a couple chances in front of the net, it just went off her stick wrong," Berube said.

Lauren Ineson had the assist on Couture's late game-changer.

"They're starting to turn the corner," Berube said. "They're starting to understand more what they're doing because we've got a lot of new players this year."

Contact Carl Setterlund at sports@telegram.com. Follow him on Twitter @TGsports.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.